Foundation Research Projects Selected for 2003

At the annual meeting of the Foundation's Research and Development Advisory Committee, the following four projects were approved:

Reducing Teen Crashes, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation

This project will investigate the causes of teen crashes in jurisdictions with Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws and will evaluate the effectiveness of GDL provisions. In addition, the study will compare teens in crashes with their crash-free peers, and will identify programs, strategies, and legislation that could reduce deaths and injuries to teen drivers.

driver-ZED update, Global Learning Systems

The current software for driver-ZED is becoming outdated. This project will revise the software to make driver-ZED more easily compatible with today's computers. It will also add a new module on construction zone safety and will provide additional safety tips.

Traffic safety educational materials for Hispanics, The Education Development Center

The Hispanic population remains underserved by traffic safety education materials. This project will examine materials currently in use, evaluate them, identify gaps, and develop guidelines for the development of future safety materials.

Short-term License Suspension, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation

In Canada, police officers can immediately suspend the license of a driver with a BAC in excess of .05 for 24 hours. This project will assess the deterrent effects of this type of suspension and will determine how the process achieves the desired effect.